Method of and apparatus for assembling wire wheels



June, 3. 1924. 7 1,496,058

H. M. KUNIHOLM ETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING WIRE WHEELS d Oct.27. 1923 Filg 2 Sheets-Sheet I -f ll! H F I za Patented June 3, 1924.

UNITED stares HUGO M. K'UNII-IOLM, or GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, AssmnoitTO HEYwooD-wAKn' FIELD COMPANY, or GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, aooaronnriolv or MASSA- CHUSETTS.

PATENT- OFFICE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING- WIRE WHEELS.

Application filed October 27, 1923. Serial No. 671,184.

sertion of the ends of the wire spokes intoj perforations through themetal rim and the swaging of the outer ends of the spokes so as to holdthem in that position. The threading of the spokes into the rim is doneby hand at the present time and is a very 7 slow process. Each wheelcomprises a previously formed metal rim having equally spacedperforations for the spokes. A central hub is provided with circularfiangesat its ends spaced apart and two sets of spokes.

Half the spokes are connected with one of the circular flanges and theother half with the other and the two sets of spokes are so arrangedthat they are out of registration with each other. For example, if thereare four spokes on each side as indicated in the drawings, each spokemakes an angle of 15 with the two adjacent spokes of the other set.

This invention relates to the production of practically the same wheel,no changes being made in the wheel itself except that the spokes arenail pointed before they are assembled and swaged over at the ends. Theobject of the invention of course is to facilitate the operation ofassembling or hanging the wheel and to save greatly in labor cost andsecure accurate and uniform results.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa diametrical sectional view of a set of dies for hanging a wheel inaccordance with this invention showing the parts of the wheel locatedtherein and the dies separated;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the dies brought together so that thewheel is completely assembled;

Figi' 3 is a plan of the bottom die with the parts in the position shownin Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a diametrical sectionalview on the line 4-4 of Fig. '3 toillustrate the upper set of spokes in position with the dies open.

Referring firsttoFig. 1, it will be seen that I have shown two main dies10 and-11. Each of these dies has a oentralperforation in which is acentering pin 12 fixedly located. The dies also have spoke guides 13 and14 respectively. of any form but I have shown them as bifurcated andhaving vertical radial pas-v sages in them fitting the spokes S andguiding them in a vertical direction, that is, keeplng them from movingaround the.

wheel inany way. The ends of the guides are slanted at the desired angleof the spokes in the completed wheel.

These features constitute the main ele, ments of the two diesbut aroundeach die: I have provided a ledge 15 for positively-1 limiting themotion of an annular ring 16. This annular ring on the lower die issupported by a series of springs 17 equally spaced apart and acorresponding series of springs. are located .on the upper die to holdthe upper ring down with a yielding pressure. When the dies cometogether these rings are pressed back on the ledges 15 against'the forceof the springs and therefore they are registered properly with re spectto the main dies as shown in Fig. 2. These rings are also provided withguide studs or screws '18 having heads recipro cable, in passages 19 intheback side of each of the respective dies. This limits the motion ofthe rings away from the dies, caused by the springs,-and this limitationis accurate so that when the dies are open the.

rings are always projected the same distance. I

Each ring is provided with a groovei20 in-the face. These two groovesregister with into a spoke hole in the wheel rim R held therein. Theworkwhichgis to be put in these :dies

These guides may be comprises as stated, a central hub H preferably ofsheet metal and having been formed in cylindrical shape with a pair ofbeads near the ends which are open. Around this hub at one end is acircular sheet metal flange F previously centered on the bead andsecured thereto. It is flanged over at its edge to provide inwardlyprojecting flanges having spaces between them. These flanges 'extendover and pinch a piece of Wire extending circumferentially and forming apart of two adjacent spokes S as is usual in this industry. It will beseen therefore that every alternate one of these flanges has securedunder it this portion of wire so as to hold the two adjacent spokeswhich constitute the ends of this piece of wire and project from itradially and also at a uniform inclination, as indicated in Fig. 1. Thespokes are bent or dished farther out of the plane of the flange thanthey will be when the wheel is finished. The ends of these spokes arenail pointed.

In the lower groove 20 I locate the previously formed rim B. This rim isshaped up outside of thisvmachine and provided with eight perforationsif there are eight spokes, these perforations being equally spaced. Thegroove is of a size and shape to support this rim accurately in positionand the rings 20 are either beveled off or transversely grooved so thatthe ends of the spokes can rest as shown in Fig. 1 in position toregister with the holes in the rim and enter them when the two dies arepressed together.

In this description I have ignored the upper die 11. That is not inplace while the parts above described are being located. The upper setof spokes S, attached to a circular flange F but entirely separate fromthe hub, is now placed in position. The nail pointed ends of the spokesare placed in depressions in the rim 16. This is all that is necessaryto properly locate this upper set of spokes. These spokes, it will beunderstood, alternate with the lower spokes so that if there are eightspokes in the wheel there are four in each set and those of each setmake an angle of 45 with the adjacent ones of the other set. Thisprinciple is maintained if the number of spokes is larger.

The parts are so arranged that the guides 13 and 14 accurately maintainthe spokes in these relative positions and when the die 11 is broughtdown and forced toward the die 10 against the action of the severalsprings the two sets of spokes will be flattened out to some extent thatis, until they come against the bottoms of the guides in the grooves 13and 14 which bottoms are slanted as clearly shown. This also causes thetwo rings 16 to be seated finally back on the ledges 15 where positivepressure is applied to them from that point. At the same time thepointed ends of all the spokes project through their respectiveperforations in the rim. The force applied in performing this actionresults in flattening out the two sets of spokes to an equal extent sothat they are still dished just the amount required for the completewheel. The upper flange is forced on the upper head of the hub by thesame motion and both ends of" the hub are flared outwardly at the endson account of the tapering shoulders 32 on the pins 12. This operationcan be performed separately if desired. At the same time one spokepushes out the pin 24 which is tapered on the end to a near point so,when the wheel is ejected, it will slide way out. 7

This provides a p urely mechanical method of hanging the wheel as it isnot even necessary to adjust theends of the spokes to the holes in therim. They simply have to be inserted in the guides and the rim also hasto be placed in proper position with respect to the pin 24. Thisregisters all the parts so that they will come into proper position whenthe pressure is applied. When the pressure is removed and the upper dielifted the springs force the lower ring 16 upwardly to the positionshown in Fig. l and take with it the whole wheel which is supportedthereby. The movement is far enough to free the hub from the lower pin12 and eject the wheel. The ends of the spokes are swedged overafterwards. As everything is done in dies all the wheels come through inuniform shape and the labor cost is very greatly re duced.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made thereinby any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of constructionherein shown and described but what I do claim is 1. In a wheelassembling device, the combination of a pair of dies having means forregistering and guiding the spokes, with a ring connected with one dieand surrounding it and provided with means for receiving and holding inproper position the rim of the wheel, and means whereby when the diesare forced together the spokes will be forced into holes in the rim andpushed through the same.

2. In a wheel assembling device, the combination with a die. having aradial set of guides for guiding the spokes of a wheel, of means forsupporting a rim previously perforated, said parts being so arrangedthat when pressure is applied the, several spokes will enter theperforations in the rim.

3. In a wheel assembling device, the combination with a pair of dies,each having radial sets of guides for guiding half the spokes of awheel, of means at the edges of said die s'for supporting a rimpreviously,

perforated, said parts being so arranged that when the dies are forcedtogether the several being rigidly arranged and having rearsurfacesarranged at equal angles to the central plane of the wheel, wherebywhen the spokes are forced outwardly at their ends they will come to auniform angle to the plane of the wheel. 7

4. In a wheel assembling device, the combination of a pair of dies, eachhaving means for registering and guiding one set of spokes, and acentral pin for centering part of the hub of the wheel and therebycentering the spokes connected therewith, with a ring con nected witheach die and surrounding itand provided with means for receiving andholding in proper position the rim of the wheel, and means whereby whenthe dies are forced together the spokes held by them will be forced intoholes in the rim and pushed through the same.

5. In a wheel assembling device, the combination of a pair of dies, eachhaving means for registering and guiding one set of spokes, with a ringconnected with each die and surrounding it and provided with means forreceiving and holding in proper position the rim of the wheel, yieldingmeans for supporting said rings from their respective dies, each diehaving a ledge against which its ring is adapted to be forced when thedies are forced together to form a positive seat and locate the rim at adefinite elevation when the assembling operation is finished, and meanswhereby when the dies are forced together the spokes held by them willbe forced into 'holes in the rim and pushed through the same.

6. In a wheel assembling device, the combination of a pair of dies, eachhaving means for registering and guiding one set of spokes, with a ringconnected with each die and surrounding it and provided with means forreceiving and holding in proper position the rim of the wheel, yieldingmeans for supporting said rings from their respective dies, each diehaving a ledge against which its ring is adapted to be forced when thedies are forced together to form a positive seat and locate the rim at adefinite elevation when the assembling operation is finished, meanswhereby when the dies are forced together the spokes held by them willbe forced into holes in the 'rim and pushed through the same, and anopposite series of guide pin studs having means for limiting themovement of the rings away from the dies by the action of its springs.

7. In a wheel assembling device, the com bination with a lower and anupper die each having radial sets of guides for guiding half the spokesof a wheel, means at the edges of said dies for supporting-a rimpreviously perforated, one of, said rings being provided with a blockmounted thereon and a pin supported by, said block andadjustable into apositiontoregister theperforations of the wheel rim to receive the endsof the spokes. 8. The method of assembling wire wheels which consists inmounting a tubular hub having a circular flange,supporting half of thewire spokes of the wheel on a center, centering the other half of thespokes in registration therewith, locating a rim pre-i viouslyperforated for the reception of the spokes at a po-int adjacent to theends of the spokes and then forcing the two sets of spokes toward eachother to cause them to enter the perforations in the rim, and the twocenters to come closer together.

9. The method of assembling a wire wheel which consists in mounting aflange on one end of a tubular hub, said flange having one set of spokesmounted thereon, dishing will have in the completed wheel, centering theother set of spokes mounted on a similar flange at a point opposite thefirst spokes, providing the spokes with nail points, locating apreviously formed rim having perforations at regular intervals in suchposition that each perforation registers with the pointed end of one ofthe spokes and is closely adjacent thereto, forcing the two sets ofspokes toward each other, and guiding the ends of the spokes into theirrespective perforations, whereby the two sets of spokes are flattenedout partly but left in a properly dished condition.

10. The method of assembling a wire wheel which consists in mounting aflange on one end of a tubular hub, said flange having one set of spokesmounted thereon, dishing these spokes at a sharper angle than they willhave in the completed wheel, centering the other set of spokes mountedon a similar flange having a central perforation at a point opposite thehub, providing the spokes with nail points, locating a previously formedrim having perforations at regular intervals in such position that eachperforation registers with the pointed end of one of the spokes and isclosely adjacent thereto, forcing the two sets of spokes toward eachother and guiding the ends of the spokes into their respectiveperforations, whereby the two sets of spokes are flattened out partlybut left in a properly dished condition, and the second flange is forcedover and fixed to the other end of the hub.

11. The method of assembling wire wheels which consists in mounting atubular hub supporting half of the wire spokes of the wheel on a center,centering the other half of the spokes in registration therewith,loeating a rim previously perforated for the reception of the spoke-s-at a point "adjacent-:

wvardly lthe open ends of the hub.

125-111 a Wheel; assembling -dev'i.ce,the combination of a pairof dies,each having meansfor regist eriin-g; andguiding one setof spokes, and acentral pin for centering-Iw part o f-the- 'hubof the wheel tandthereby--l centering- {the spekes -conneoted 3 therewith, ,1

nwmossb swedgingr.out the end of *the 'ihuhiwith a;

wring eonneeted'with'each die Qndsurnound? ing: it and I provided :Withmeans, forflreceiv- --ing and'holdin'gdn propel-'5 position the rim 0fthe WhGQlf'flHd means wherebyflwhen the dies are forced together :the,:spokes held; by

them will be forceduinto vholes in the-rim and pushed through thesame-wI In testimony wheieof I haveahel eunto t,

Vaffixed my, signature.

HUGO? M. KUIQIHOL-Mf 't

